Lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis sounds like a win over Gustavo Lemos is already assured for their 10-round head-to-head on November 8th at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, 25 days from now. The event will be shown on ESPN+.
Top ranking gives 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn (11-0, 7 KOs) his first main event, despite his recent lackluster performances against Miguel Madueno and Nahir Albright.
They are believed to be angling for Keyshawn in a Berlanga-esque build-up, looking to land him for a big money fight against Gervonta Davis in a year or two.
The idea is to match Keyshawn against tough beatable opposition so he can create a stellar record and then set up a PPV fight against Tank Davis that will bring in good money. If Top Rank matched Keyshawn against tough opposition to develop him properly by matching him against arch nemesis Andy Cruz, William Zepeda or Floyd Schofield, he would likely lose repeatedly.
Since turning pro in 2021, Keyshawn hasn’t shown the promise some thought he would after being beaten by Andy Cruz in the 2020 Olympics. Losing the fight to Cruz in the finals didn’t bode well for Keyshawn making it to the pros, but he gained popularity in his native Virginia. That’s why he’s headline. Additionally, it is important for Top Rank to build Keyshawn’s brand to create hype for a hoped-for money fight against Tank Davis.
On the undercard, lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) will look to steal the show again by fighting Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Mason lifted Keyshawn and Shakur Stevenson at the July 6th event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The 20-year-old made Keyshawn and Shakur look like bit players despite being ranked higher on the Top Rank promoted card.
“Another crazy show. You saw me in my last fight (Miguel Madueno) in Jersey. Jersey showed up for me,” Keyshawn Davis said Battle hypetalks about his next fight against Gustavo Lemos on November 8th in Norfolk, Virginia.
Keyshawn was not great against Miguel Madueno in his last fight on July 6th. He became stressed from the pressure Madueno was putting on him and used a variety of rowhouse tactics to avoid being knocked out. Keyshawn bumped, wrestled, and at one point picked up Madueno, who looked like he was going to body slam him. Surprisingly, the referee did not penalize Keyshawn for his numerous tactics.
“Look at my last fight. That’s how I’m going to handle it. If he gets dirty, I’m going to get dirty,” Keyshawn said of Lemos and what he will do if he uses roughhouse tactics. “I’m going to box the (rubbish) out of you. I’m not afraid of your power or what you do, but you’re going to worry about what I do, period. I don’t care about Lemos. He’s going to worry about me.
“Now, we got my homecoming in my first main event. We have Troy Isley in the co-head. We’re going to show. Seven thousand eight hundred tickets were sold in two days. Of course it’s going to sell out. Ten thousand fans in that arena. It’s gonna be crazy. I am very respected in the sport. I got real support. I’m not going to say I’m not appreciated at all. The numbers don’t lie.
“I will never fight Shakur. He focused me on this fight. He sent me right back on track. It is deeper than money or boxing. I would never fight Shakur,” Keyshawn said about not being willing to fight his friend, Shakur Stevenson.
It doesn’t matter that Keyshawn will never fight Shakur because the wheels will eventually come off when Top Rank throws him in the deep end.
HOMECOMING PREPARATION 🔥
(via @KeyshawnDavis8) pic.twitter.com/iG56dSgrLw
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) 14 October 2024
